Luciano and Sofia's wedding was next week.

I stared at the photo Sofia had sent me. The faint scar on Luciano's jaw was a stark reminder that this was real.

Years ago, when I was 20, I used to work part-time at a bar. Unfortunately, I just so happened to be working the day a gunfight broke out between the Carlotta family and an enemy family. Despite being innocent, I was caught in the crossfire.

Luciano, the Don's son, had clearly already escaped, yet when a bullet was fired in my direction, he spun around and tackled me. The bullet grazed his jaw as we crashed to the ground, and that was it. It was love at first sight.

Nonetheless, despite dating for three years, I was still unable to become his lawfully wedded wife.

Back then, he would always sigh while comforting me, "Amore, even now, I still can't let others know of your existence, nor can I publicly announce our relationship. Three years. Please wait for me for another three years. Once I become the Don, I'll throw you a grand wedding."

I could only nod silently.

Seeing that, he would pull me into his arms with a heartbroken look on his face.

"Rosanna, I know this isn't fair to you. However, my family keeps pushing for me to marry a Donna whose status equals mine, and I still don't have enough power to go against them. If they were to find out about you, you would disappear from this world the very next day.

"I just can't bear the thought of losing you, so please understand and give me three more years. Or maybe, we could have a baby. That way, no matter if I become the Don or not in the future, you and I will still always be tied together."

Taking in his earnest expression, I had believed him then.

The day I went into labor, I hemorrhaged terribly due to a difficult birth. Even after the surgery was over, he failed to show up.

Three days later, he finally appeared. Grasping my pallid hand with an expression of heartache, he had explained, "Rosanna, I know that you've suffered, but if someone were to photograph me appearing in the hospital, not only you, but even Mario, our son, would be exposed.

"Mario will definitely be the Carlotta family's heir. However, until I marry you, I can't let him bear the stigma of being an illegitimate bastard. One day, we'll be able to live together as a family, openly and properly."

It wasn't until I received Sofia's news tonight that I was forced to face reality—Luciano had chosen someone else.

After ending the call with Sofia, I remained in the living room, sitting there in the dark for a very long time.

Eventually, Luciano returned and spotted my puffy and red eyes.

"Amore, what happened? Come now, tell me! I can help you handle whatever it is!"

Taking in the panicked and worried expression on his face, I couldn't help but look him straight in the eyes.

"Luciano, it's been six years already. Are we really going to marry?"

"O-Of course!"

Despite his words, the way his eyes darted away shiftily was all the answer I needed.

"Amore, didn't we already agree on this a long time ago? Why would you suddenly ask me that question? Has something happened?"

He nervously searched my face, trying to figure out the reason for my question.

I lowered my gaze and, forcing the bitter laugh that welled in my throat down, answered softly, "I'm just… feeling a little down. Perhaps it's loneliness from not seeing Mario in so long."

Upon hearing this, Luciano breathed a sigh of relief before pressing an adoring kiss to my forehead. "It's all my fault. I've been so busy lately that I've neglected you. How about I take you overseas for a holiday in a few days? If you miss our son so much, we can bring him too."

Then, as though he had remembered something, he hastily added, "But the vacation will have to wait till after next week. I have an arms deal to negotiate and will have to leave for a few days. Once I return, I'll spend time with you and Mario."

I was well aware that the "arms deal" he spoke of was none other than the wedding I had been dreaming of for years.

Nevertheless, I responded in my usual manner, smiling as I said, "Okay, I'll be waiting."

Once the relieved Luciano had turned to head into the bathroom, I took out my phone and booked a flight for the day of their wedding.

I had barely completed my booking when a pair of arms suddenly snaked around me from behind, pulling me back into a damp and warm embrace.

Luciano pressed his bare chest into me as he murmured seductively, "Hmm? Are you booking plane tickets? To where?"

I was momentarily stunned, but then I swiftly angled my phone away from his view, worried that he would notice my booking record.

"Just browsing."

Luciano couldn't stop a bark of laughter from leaving his lips. Tightening his arms around my waist, he said, "Silly, there's no need to look at special price tickets when you're with me. I'm the future Don of the Carlotta family, and my Donna deserves the very best of everything!

"No need to be so impatient. Once I'm done with my work, I'll plan out our holiday. From the hotel and flight tickets to the restaurants–I'll be sure to book the most luxurious options available."

With that, Luciano fell silent, happily fantasizing about the vacation that would never happen.

In truth, if he had spared even a few more seconds to look at my phone screen, he would've realized that the booking record didn't include a ticket for him.

"Amore, just wait for me, alright? Not only do I want you to have the perfect vacation, but I'll also throw you the grandest and most memorable wedding ever!"

Squeezing me tightly, he pressed a searing kiss onto my neck.

I instinctively felt repulsed by his attempt at intimacy, but before I could push him away, his phone abruptly rang.

I watched as a panicked look flashed across his face after he checked the caller ID.

"It's my business partner. I have to take this call."

With that said, he hastily retreated from the bedroom.

However, I had already seen that the person calling was actually Sofia.

Unsurprisingly, Luciano returned after the phone call with a regretful expression.

"The meeting time has been brought forward. I still need to head back to the Carlotta residence to prepare before I leave, so I have to go right now. Since the phone line connection might not be too good overseas, don't worry if you fail to get in contact with me, okay?"

He hurriedly packed his luggage, pecked me on the cheek, and then departed in a rush.

I was aware that his hasty departure was so that he would have enough time to prepare for the wedding in one week.

The morning after he left, I headed to the restaurant I had booked for his birthday dinner next week to cancel our table.

As I strode down the corridor, a familiar voice drifted out from a private room at the end of the hall.

"Mr. Carlotta, isn't Rosanna the woman you love more than anything? Are you really going to accept the family's marriage proposal and marry a Donna you don't even love?"

"I don't have enough influence right now and desperately need the Rossi family's help. Once I've obtained that last piece of territory and truly become the Don, I'll make sure to give Rosanna and Mario what they're due."

Stopping at the door, I peeked through a crack and spotted Luciano in the room, along with his second in command, Stefano Moretta.

"If Ms. Rosanna were to find out that you lied to her, she would definitely leave!"

"She won't find out." Luciano cut Stefano off before the latter could say anything more. Then, taking a gulp of his drink, he added, "Even if she learns of it, nothing will happen. She loves me too much to leave me, especially since I'm the one caring for Mario now. There's no way she'd abandon him and leave by herself."

Despite already knowing the truth beforehand, hearing those words come out of Luciano's own mouth now, I still felt like a dagger was stabbing deep into my heart.

Worried that I would have a breakdown right then and there if I remained here any longer, I fled out of the restaurant as quickly as my legs could take me.

After I returned home, I called Luciano. "Luciano, I miss Mario so, so much. Could you take me to see him?"

"But I'll be heading to the airport in an hour," Luciano stammered out in reply, clearly sounding rather conflicted.

"I know you're really busy, and it's not yet my visitation day, but I had a nightmare where Mario fell sick…" I replied tearfully.

Hearing that, Luciano was silent for several seconds before he finally answered me in a tone mixed with exasperation and amusement, "Alright, I'll take you to him, but you can't cry anymore. It pains me to hear you crying like that. However, don't forget that we only have one hour, okay?"

This was the first time Luciano had ever agreed to my request to visit Mario earlier. I wondered if it was due to a guilty conscience.

Like many times before, he sent the housekeepers away, and I finally got my wish to see our son.

Mario was over a year old by now. He was just starting to toddle around and could already say "Mama" and "Dada."

Luciano lifted him high into the air so the toddler could kiss my cheek. The harmonious and blissful moment this painted was as though we truly were a small family of three.

At that moment, Luciano's phone rang. He guiltily rejected the call before telling me he had to leave for the airport now.

I took Mario from him, my fingers curling in nervousness as I tried to maintain my usual calm smile.

"Alright, go ahead. I'm worried about leaving Mario alone here, so I'll wait for the housekeepers to return first before I sneak out."

A hint of uncertainty and hesitation flickered across Luciano's face.

If this had been in the past, he never would've agreed to leave me alone with Mario. However, he was clearly being urged to return to prepare for the wedding, which had him letting down his guard.

As his phone rang shrilly once more, he finally agreed to my suggestion after a few more seconds of hesitation.

Tightening my grip on Mario, I did my best to control my expression as I watched Luciano hurry off. I couldn't afford for any of my agitated emotions to show.

Five minutes later, I placed Mario into my car and drove off.

Goodbye, Luciano. May we never meet again.